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CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Authorities issued an Amber Alert on Friday for a 7-year-old boy who was missing from the scene of a double homicide on Chicago's South Side. Police released this picture of Julian King, 7, who may be traveling with the suspect in a double homicide.
Police released this picture of Julian King, 7, who may be traveling with the suspect in a double homicide. Click to view previous image 1 of 2 Click to view next image
Lisa Kasteler, publicist for singer-actress Jennifer Hudson, told The Associated Press that police are investigating the deaths of the entertainer's mother and brother.
The boy, Julian King, may be traveling with a suspect in the homicides in a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban with Illinois license plates, authorities said at an evening news conference.
Julian is 4 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. He was wearing a brown polo shirt with stripes and khaki pants when last seen, authorities said in the Amber Alert.
The bodies were found at a home belonging to the mother of the Oscar-winning actress, a family pastor told CNN affiliate CLTV.
"They found Jennifer's mother and her brother murdered in her mother's home this afternoon," said Willie Davis, pastor of Progressive Baptist Church. "She is on her way back into Chicago from Tampa, Florida."
Davis said he was notified that he might be called out to assist Hudson and her family members.
Deputy Police Chief Joseph Patterson said the bodies were found about 3 p.m. Friday, when a relative arrived home and found the body of a female shot to death on the living room floor. Video Watch the police press conference » Don't Miss
* WLS: Bodies found in home of Hudson's mom * CLTV: Sources say Jennifer Hudson relative slain
The relative backed out of the house and called police, who found the body of a male shot to death in a bedroom, Patterson said.
The white Suburban and the 7-year-old were missing from the scene, he said.
Police did not identify the victims and did not mention Hudson. Patterson said Julian King was the grandson of the female victim. advertisement
Neighbors reported hearing gunshots earlier Friday, he said. Authorities found no signs of forced entry to the home and are not sure whether other items are missing.
Hudson won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Effie in the film version of the Broadway musical "Dreamgirls." She competed on the third season of "American Idol" in 2004, making it to the top seven contestants before being eliminated from the contest.
UGH! So terrible.
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Mother, brother of Oscar-winning actress slain, suspect arrested
22 minutes ago
CHICAGO (AFP) — The mother and brother of Oscar-winning actress and chart-topping R&B singer Jennifer Hudson were found shot dead at the family's Chicago home, according to a publicist for the actress and singer.
A Chicago police department spokesman said the murders appeared to be the result of a domestic incident, but would not confirm the identities of the victims.
Hudson's personal publicist Lisa Kasteler confirmed that the victims were Hudson's mother, Darnell Donnerson, 57, and her brother, Jason Hudson, 29.
Neighbors reported hearing gunshots at Donnerson's home in the gritty Englewood neighborhood of the city between 8:00 or 9:00 am Friday, but no one raised the alarm until Hudson's sister Julia returned home from work and made the gruesome discovery around 3:00 pm, FOX News reported.
Authorities immediately issued an all points bulletin for a missing seven-year-old boy, Julian King.
Police said the missing youngster might have been abducted from the home and could be in the company of William Balfour, a suspect in the double homicide, who should be considered armed and dangerous.
The bulletin said Balfour, 27, could be driving a white Chevrolet Suburban truck. The truck belonged to Jason Hudson, the slain brother of the singer, according to records.
Neighbours and news reports identified the boy as the son of Julia Hudson, and Balfour as her estranged husband and the stepfather of King.
Balfour is currently on parole after serving six and a half years for attempted murder, and had listed Hudson's mother's address as his own within the last year, the celebrity website TMZ said.
The ex-con was taken into custody by police late Friday, the Chicago Tribune reported shortly before 10:00 pm, but the paper said the missing boy was still unaccounted for.
Balfour was not co-operating with investigators and was not disclosing the whereabouts of the seven-year-old boy, FOX News reported.
Jennifer Hudson was reported to be flying home to Chicago from Tampa, Florida.
The 27-year-old singer shot to nationwide fame on American Idol, the wildly popular television talent show, and in 2007 she earned an Oscar for supporting actress for her turn in "Dreamgirls," alongside Beyonce, and Jamie Foxx.
Her self-titled debut album came out September 30 and she is currently riding high in the charts with a number one single on the Billboard R&B charts, Spotlight.
In recent weeks, she has been promoting her latest film project, "The Secret Life of Bees."
In interviews, Hudson credited her mother with helping her launch her career by pushing her to apply to American Idol, and said her siblings kept her rooted and down to earth.
What a tragedy! My condolences and best wishes for Jennifer and the rest of the family.
quote:Originally posted by Hibbah: CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Authorities issued an Amber Alert on Friday for a 7-year-old boy who was missing from the scene of a double homicide on Chicago's South Side. Police released this picture of Julian King, 7, who may be traveling with the suspect in a double homicide.
Police released this picture of Julian King, 7, who may be traveling with the suspect in a double homicide. Click to view previous image 1 of 2 Click to view next image
Lisa Kasteler, publicist for singer-actress Jennifer Hudson, told The Associated Press that police are investigating the deaths of the entertainer's mother and brother.
The boy, Julian King, may be traveling with a suspect in the homicides in a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban with Illinois license plates, authorities said at an evening news conference.
Julian is 4 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. He was wearing a brown polo shirt with stripes and khaki pants when last seen, authorities said in the Amber Alert.
The bodies were found at a home belonging to the mother of the Oscar-winning actress, a family pastor told CNN affiliate CLTV.
"They found Jennifer's mother and her brother murdered in her mother's home this afternoon," said Willie Davis, pastor of Progressive Baptist Church. "She is on her way back into Chicago from Tampa, Florida."
Davis said he was notified that he might be called out to assist Hudson and her family members.
Deputy Police Chief Joseph Patterson said the bodies were found about 3 p.m. Friday, when a relative arrived home and found the body of a female shot to death on the living room floor. Video Watch the police press conference » Don't Miss
* WLS: Bodies found in home of Hudson's mom * CLTV: Sources say Jennifer Hudson relative slain
The relative backed out of the house and called police, who found the body of a male shot to death in a bedroom, Patterson said.
The white Suburban and the 7-year-old were missing from the scene, he said.
Police did not identify the victims and did not mention Hudson. Patterson said Julian King was the grandson of the female victim. advertisement
Neighbors reported hearing gunshots earlier Friday, he said. Authorities found no signs of forced entry to the home and are not sure whether other items are missing.
Hudson won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Effie in the film version of the Broadway musical "Dreamgirls." She competed on the third season of "American Idol" in 2004, making it to the top seven contestants before being eliminated from the contest.
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